The Government of South Sudan has officially inaugurated and launched two initiatives to boost revenue collection and accountability in the East African nation.
The South Sudan Institute of Revenue Administration (SSIRA) and the second phase of the Non-Oil Revenue Mobilisation and Accountability Project (NORMA II) were launched during an event held near Juba on 25 July.
Simon Akuei Deing (L), SSIRA Commissioner General, Hon. Marial Dongrin Ater, South Sudan Minister of Finance and Planning (C) cut the ribbon to officially inaugurate the South Sudan Institute of Revenue Administration inauguration.
The $8.6 million project, financed by the African Development Fund, will focus on strengthening tax administration capacity, promoting compliance and exploring new revenue streams. It will also build institutional capacity within the country's public financial management systems. SSIRA will play an integral part of the project's extensive training program, building capacity in tax administration.
NORMA II builds on Phase I of the project initiated in 2017 which aimed to deepen and consolidate domestic revenue mobilization reforms. It reinforces financial controls, as well as reporting and accountability functions--all of which complement ongoing tax administration reforms.
Speaking during the event, Marial Dongrin Ater, the Minister of Finance and Planning and Bank Governor for South Sudan, commended the partnership with the Bank saying: "This is one of the tangible partnerships we have in this country."
He went on to say that NORMA I became the foundation for the establishment of a National Revenue Authority, whose goal is to craft a framework for the mobilization of non-oil tax revenue. Oil accounts for roughly 60% of GDP, 99% of exports and 90% of government revenues, thus leaving the country's economy heavily reliant on oil.
"We are struggling with funding the country's development because of reliance on oil amid volatile global oil prices, production disruptions, and the resultant fiscal unpredictability," Minister Ater explained.
NORMA I has delivered significant results, including an increase of over ten-fold in non-oil revenue collections -- from an estimated $154,000 in the 2017-2018 fiscal year to over $217 million in 2024-2025.
"This is meaningful progress. Although non-oil revenue still represents a relatively small share of the national budget -- rising from just 2% in 2024 to an estimated 6% of GDP now -- it remains well below the regional average of 13%," noted Ater.
In his welcome remarks, Simon Akuei Deng, Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority, described the new revenue administration as a strategic investment in human capital. "The institute will serve as a centre of excellence for continuous professional development and capacity building, driving institutional learning and ensuring that revenue policies and strategies are evidence-based and aligned with national priorities," he noted.
African Development Bank Director for the Governance and Economic Reforms Department, Abdoulaye Coulibaly, reiterated the institution's commitment to supporting South Sudan in its development journey.
"I reassure you that the African Development Bank remains committed to working with the South Sudanese authorities and their partners to help diversify the country's economy away from oil and build a foundation for long-term structural transformation of Africa's youngest nation," he said.
On the sidelines of the event, the South Sudan Revenue Authority convened a panel discussion under the theme: "Reflecting on South Sudan's Tax Reform Journey: Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities Ahead", aimed at exploring tax reforms in fragile and transition states, with special focus on South Sudan.
The panel, comprising representatives from key government agencies, academia, civil society, the private sector, and development partners, discussed the practical challenges of implementing digital taxes in a fragile state with a limited private sector and significant structural constraints.
Panel member Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress, a civil society organisation in South Sudan, emphasized the importance of open and consistent communication between government institutions and the public.
"Building trust between citizens and the Revenue Authority begins with transparency. Publishing quarterly revenue data is a good start, but it must be consistent," Yakani said. "We also need awareness campaigns and regular tax forums to engage citizens and authorities."
Ater acknowledged that the goal was still a few steps away. "As a country, we still have a long way to go," he said. "With NORMA II, we aim to move much closer to our [non-oil revenue] target."
https://afdb.smugmug.com/2025/July/South-Sudan-NORMA-Phase-II-and-SSIRA-Launch
